George Dawe. Imogen Discovered in the Cave of Belarius, 1809.


Oil on canvas, 39.5 x 50 inches. The Tate Gallery, London.

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Dawe's painting illustrates Act IV, Scene ii, of Cymbeline when Belarius, Arviragus and Guiderius return from hunting and discover Imogen, apparently dead. Dawe has taken some liberty with the text; in the play Imogen is still disguised as the boy Fidele, but in the painting Dawe has dressed her as a girl.